We had a wonderful family weekend in Nashville. My good friend Kat was married on Saturday and we made the trip for the celebrations. My mom came up from Huntsville to babysit for the weekend so we could let loose a bit. Mom ROCKED. On Friday we went to the rehearsal dinner and returned to find Raymond totally happy and entertained by mom and the Tubbs, some good family friends. We came back to the hotel for me to nurse and put Raymond to bed - and then went to a bar around the corner. However, when it came time to go someplace new, I couldn't stomach being a whole 16 blocks/cab ride away from the hotel in case Raymond needed me - so I went home at midnight. Really, how lame is that? I was too worried to go farther away! With the perfect set up! Morgan was able to stay out until 4 AM rock it - but I had to be close to our little man.
On Saturday Mom, Raymond, Morgan and I went to the wedding together and once it got dark Mom took Raymond back to the hotel. I had a really hard time with this because we were relying on a shuttle to take us home and we were 45 minutes out of town and I knew I wouldn't be able to just hop home in case he needed me. But I let go - slowly. And after he left finally let myself have a much needed drink. But once again when we got back into town I came home and went to bed - not because I was too tired or didn't want to stay out with my people - but because I felt the need to be where Raymond was in case something happened. Once again, Morgan had NO PROBLEM staying out until (cough cough) 6 AM.
On Sunday I was like OK, next trip I stay out late and you stay closer to home with Raymond. And Morgan's response was totally true, there is no way I can do it when Raymond is around. I can't let go that much - can't let myself drink to much or be so far away that I can't get to him if needed. I mean seriously, I had my mother and a fridge full of pumped milk. I could have easily raged. But I couldn't do it.
I have often been the last girl standing - usually long after my husband has passed out. I need to think that when appropriate I can still pull that off - but when/how? Have I permanently changed?
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Baby Signs
We have several friends who have taught their babies sign language as a form of expression before they could speak. There are a few theories on how to do it - Morgan and I have used a simple approach so far, introducing only the signs for mommy, daddy and milk.
We had some good advice, first from my best friend Jane, who said "Don't teach them MORE - there is nothing more annoying than having a kid sign 'MORE' but then can't follow it up with what they want more of!" That is why we are teaching milk, and not more.
Morgan has been very good about using the daddy sign when he talks to Raymond, and a could of weeks ago Raymond started putting his had on his forehead, but he hasn't quite been able to get it right because he doesn't seem to have consciousness about what kind of shape his hand is in ... nonetheless, last weekend when my mom was in town Raymond did make his version of the daddy sign to explicitly ask for Morgan. WOW. That is all I could think. WOW. HE DID IT. And of course I took him to Morgan (who was in the process of cooking a gourmet Mother's Day Weekend Dinner for us!).
This experience left me proud as I could be - I really do think Raymond is exceptionally bright and perfect. Okay, now I sound like one of those moms, but really I can't help it.
Today, however, a new kind of excitement came when Raymond looked directly at me and made the mommy sign for the first time, with his hand perfectly open and everything. I am a big puddle of gooey melted mommy pride and love as a result. I really have no idea how much of what he is doing with the signs is based on actual cognative function or if he is just following our lead. Either way he is developing so well by leaps and bounds and I have to say that I am damn proud of the job we are doing.
Not to mention the fact that he also just rolled over for the first time ... however, I am not sure that counts as he is asleep and didn't know that he was doing it. At least I know he can now, right?
We had some good advice, first from my best friend Jane, who said "Don't teach them MORE - there is nothing more annoying than having a kid sign 'MORE' but then can't follow it up with what they want more of!" That is why we are teaching milk, and not more.
Morgan has been very good about using the daddy sign when he talks to Raymond, and a could of weeks ago Raymond started putting his had on his forehead, but he hasn't quite been able to get it right because he doesn't seem to have consciousness about what kind of shape his hand is in ... nonetheless, last weekend when my mom was in town Raymond did make his version of the daddy sign to explicitly ask for Morgan. WOW. That is all I could think. WOW. HE DID IT. And of course I took him to Morgan (who was in the process of cooking a gourmet Mother's Day Weekend Dinner for us!).
This experience left me proud as I could be - I really do think Raymond is exceptionally bright and perfect. Okay, now I sound like one of those moms, but really I can't help it.
Today, however, a new kind of excitement came when Raymond looked directly at me and made the mommy sign for the first time, with his hand perfectly open and everything. I am a big puddle of gooey melted mommy pride and love as a result. I really have no idea how much of what he is doing with the signs is based on actual cognative function or if he is just following our lead. Either way he is developing so well by leaps and bounds and I have to say that I am damn proud of the job we are doing.
Not to mention the fact that he also just rolled over for the first time ... however, I am not sure that counts as he is asleep and didn't know that he was doing it. At least I know he can now, right?
Hello BLOG, have you missed me?
I had great expectations that after Raymond was born I would use this blog to regularly keep track of his life and milestones. However, I have barely used it and honestly find it flat whenever I try to write just about Raymond. I can't seem to put words together to explain how awesome it is to sit and talk with him for 30 minutes, or about how each new sound makes my heart melt. How can you explain what it feels like to have your child sound out their first S or D noises? But I have found that I have missed having the blog as a resource for myself. So, I have decided to revamp and write about my experiences as a new mother - I am sure Raymond will find his way into blog just the same.
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